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I was dreading it I would have to spend all day with his people all around, pretending they likedwereto bake hiht in the village was tallied up and sent as a bill to Perdita to pay) and I had no way of earning money and I didn’t want hioing to give hi to make him a red velvet cake (without the red, of course, because I was pretty sure they didn’t have red food dye) I was going to do this because it was the only cake I kne to reat cake

I just hoped I could find all the ingredients

“And what do you have planned forain, honey, you’re not allowed to ask” My hand slid from his chest to his jaw and I whispered, “You’ll see”

His eyes ain before he replied, “What I see is, whatever it is, I should look forward to it”

“Oh yes,” I returned

His fingers dug into my hip, he dipped his head to brush my lips with his and when he pulled away he murmured, “Then I’ll leave you to it”

I didn’t want hiie and I had Tor But Tor was a prince, he ruled a princedood He had a nus to occupy his mind Which meant, as each day threaded into the next, I had to find ways to amuse myself without his, he found ways to ht save Sale him on my shoulder and didn’t quite meet the eyes of my many onlookers as I sauntered away

“You need to be back, Cora, by noon!” Tor called from behind me

“I will, honey!” I called back “Way before that!”

I h , Prrrrrincess Corrrra,” she purred

“Calliope, like I tell you every day, you can’t eat Aggie,” I admonished, she leaped away but stopped, sat on her fat tush and blinked at ht a vendor’s eyes accidentally; he gave ht smile, tipped his cap respectfully and htened fro and winked “Doin’ well, with the party coood party, especially for its prince Wait ‘til you see, yer grace”

“Can’t wait!” I cried, clapping h race,” he called as I moved away

“Save a dance for ht wave and brighter sht iron, silver crest encrusted gates and into the village

As I strode the cobbled streets, I sreetings when they were offered to iven an opening I touched little children’s heads when I passed the ie, who chatted back, and I worried I wasn’t going to be able to find mascarpone cheese

Then I went to the house with the blue door and knocked